FORT PIERCE — Recognizing child abuse and neglect is the first step in preventing it.

Raising awareness of child abuse and neglect is the focus of this week's Treasure Coast Guardians for New Futures' second annual child summit.

With emphasis on how to interview drug-endangered children and victims of sexual abuse, the two-day conference will help educate members of the community on how to combat this epidemic.

As of spring 2012, there were approximately 1,400 children under court supervision in the Treasure Coast's 19th Judicial Circuit, with approximately 32,000 statewide, according to research published by the Guardians for New Futures. During this time frame there was an average of 15 children per month who died statewide from abuse and neglect.

Debbie Butler, president of Guardians for New Futures, hopes to provide the training and education necessary to encourage everyone to become a vigilant defender of the community's children.

"By helping the community learn more about abuse and neglect, and how to recognize signs of maltreatment and other things that are affecting our children — that's going to make us such a strong community," Butler said.

Although it's difficult to directly measure the outcome of these workshops and summits, awareness has undeniably increased since last year. This year's summit has already garnered more than 400 people signed up.

"We have 400 or more people that will attend the summit," Butler said. "Just think: if each one of those individuals had a positive impact or intervened for a child, that's a lot of eyes and a lot of ears that are looking out for our children, and are better educated about how to protect them. That's a pretty huge legacy for each individual who attends."

The conference was designed for professionals who work closely with children, such as teachers, day care providers, law enforcement officials, health care providers and mental health counselors. Although the information to be provided at the summit targets people in these fields, Butler encourages any community member with an interest to attend.

"It's not one organization, or one person or one company that can protect all of our children," she said. "It's all of us, at every level and in every community."

IF YOU GO

What: Educational conference aimed at raising awareness for child abuse and neglect within the community.

Who should attend: Professionals who work closely with children, including educators, law enforcement and health care professionals, as well as any community member interested in learning more about how to prevent child abuse and neglect.

Information: Registration can be completed through the Guardians for New Futures websitegfnf4kids.org/